Sacre Coeur

The Sacre Coeur probably numbers in the top 500 of monuments of France. This is a bit strange, because the basilica is not very old. It probably stems from the great location; in one of the nicest quarters of France, on top of a hill and overlooking all of Paris.

In 1873, the National Assembly declared its plans to erect this grand Romano-Byzantine church, dedicated to the Sacred Heart and intended for public usage. It was built as a "praise God anyway" reaction after losing a war with Germany. Construction began in 1876 on the plans of the French architect Abadie. The building was completed in 1910 and consacrated in 1919.

The Sacré-Coeur measures 100 m in length and 50 m in width, and is crowned by a distinctive 83 m dome. The 84 meter high bell-tower shelters an 18.5 ton bell with a 850 kg clapper. The interior of the church hides a lot of treasures of its own: marble sculptures, stained-glass windows, and mosaics. Standing on the stairs of the Sacré-Coeur, you can see a panoramic view that dominates United states